Mobile track surfacing machine

ABSTRACT

In a track surfacing machine, a vibratory surface tamper is mounted on a vertically adjustable carrier on the machine frame, and at least two tamping plates are hinged to the tamper so that they may be held in selected angular positions in respect thereto to contact conforming surfaces of the track ballast.

United States. Patent Plasser et al. [451 Aug. 8, 1972 1 MOBILE TRACKSURFACING 2,052,943 9/1936 Scheuchzer ..104/12 MACHINE FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventors: lh'anz Plasser, Vienna; Ekkehardt Benda,Linz-Urfahr, both of A tria 1,156,533 12/1957 France ..104/12 i 118 3700/1958 U.S.S.R., ..104/12 73 Bal 1 Assgngei mf t' f f f 1,106,790 5/1961Germany.. ..104/12 na, Austria I Q Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point[22] Flled: March 1970 Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [21]Appl.No.: 19,987 Attorney-Kurt Kelman 30 Foreign Application PriorityData 1' ABSTRACT I In a track surfacing machine, a vibratory surfaceApr1l4, 1969 Austria ..A 3367/69 tamper is mounted a verticallyadjustable carrier 521 US. Cl ..104 12, 37/105 the machine frame and atleast two tamping Plates 51 Int. Cl. ..E0lb 27/16 are hinged to thetamper so that y y be held in [58] Field of Search ,1()4/1(), 1 1, 12,13; 37/105 selected angular positions in respect thereto to contactconfomiing surfaces of the track ballast. [56] References Cue-d 8Claims, 10 Drawing figures UNITED STATES PATENTS Springer 104/ 2PATENTEBMIB 8 m 3.682.101

INVENTORS HIM/Z P LkSER BY 5 IKKEHMDT BEWA- MOBILE TRACK SURFACINGMACHINE The present invention relates to improvements in mobile tracksurfacing machines, such as track tampers and/or track leveling orlining machines.

It has been proposed to mount on the frame of such machines a vibratorysurface tamping body mounted on a carrier pivotal in a vertical planetransverse to the track and extending to the ballast laterally adjacentthe track, a fixed tamping plate on the body being placed in tampingcontact with the ballast by the vertical adjustment of the carrier. Thebody of the tamping body constitutes a housing for the vibrating meansfor vibrating the body and the tamping plate. A second tamping plate maybe hinged to the fixed horizontal tamping plate and extend in an obliqueplane conforming to the slope of the ballast along the edges of therailroad bed,

a downwardly biased spring holding the second plate in the ballastsurface-conforming angular position.

It is the primary object of this invention to improve machines of thistype and, more particularly, to widen and multiply their fields of use.Specifically, it is an object of the invention to arrange the vibratorytamping plates of a surface track tamper so that the tamper may bereadily and selectively adapted for tamping horizontally 'or obliquelyextending ballast surfaces, as well as ballast surfaces which are partlyhorizontal and partly sloping, while evenly distributing the weight ofthe tamper body over all operative tamping plates and vibrating themsimultaneously. It is a further specific object to provide a surfacetamper of this general type which may be operated selectively at anypoint of the machine, i.e. at the right or left side of the track, or ina crib, or on a flat or sloping trackless ballast bed, without specialadaptation. Such improved vibratory surface tampers may be readilyexchanged and replaced so that it is unnecessary to store a variety oftampers for different operating conditions.

The above and other objects are accomplished in accordance with thepresent invention by affixing at least two tamping plates to a vibratorysurface tamping body, the tamping plates being pivotal in respect toeach other and the tamping body for adjustment in planes enclosing aselected angle with each other. Means is provided for rigidly holdingthe tamping plates in the selected angular positions in respect to thetamping body so that the vertical adjustment of the carrier for thetamping body and the fixed pivotal adjustment of the tamping platesplaces the tamping plates in tamping contact with a conforming surfaceof the track ballast.

It is essential for the successful practice of this invention that theadjustable tamping plates are held rigidly in their selected angularpositions in respect of the tamping body with which the vibrating meansis associated so that the plates remain fixed in this positions afterthey have been selected to fit local ballast surface configurations. Inthis manner, the vibrating means is evenly and simultaneously effectivein respect of all the fixed tamping plates, whatever their relativeangular position.

As is known, the carrier for the vibrating surface tamping body may bepivotally mounted on the frame for pivoting in a vertical planetransverse to the track, and the tamping body may extend over theballast laterally adjacent the track to tamp the flanks of the ballastbed.

In one embodiment of theinvention, two abutting tamping plates arehinged to the surface tamping body along a line extending centrally ofthe body. In another embodiment,'three abutting tamping plates arehingedly connected along two symmetrically extending lines, with acentral tamping plate being fixed in relation to, or forming a part of,the tamping body while two lateral tamping plates are angularlyadjustable in respect of the central tamping plate. Of course, thetamping plates need not be hinged to each other nor need they beabutting. All that is required is that they are pivotal so as to adjusttheir relative angular position.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more apparent in the following detaileddescription of certain now preferred embodiments thereof, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a schematicside view of a combined track leveling and lining machine of generallyconventional construction,

FIG. 2 is side view, partly in section, of a mounting of a vibratorysurface tamper on the machine frame, and

FIGS. 3 to 10 schematically illustrate various embodiments andmodifications of tamping plate arrangements according to this invention.

Referring now to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, there is shown anelongated frame 1 of a combined track leveling and lining machinerunning on track 3 on wheels 2, the track ties 4 resting on ballast bed8.

An overhanging portion of the machine frame carries the track liftingapparatus 5 and the tie tamping means 6 for fixing the leveled track inposition after it has been graded by apparatus 5. A track liningapparatus 7 is mounted between the front and rear wheels to move thetrack laterally. In addition to the tamping means 6, which tamp theballast underneath the ties, the machine frame also carries an elongatedsurface tamper 9 for tamping the ballast laterally adjacent the track inthe general region of the track lining apparatus so that the ballast maybe tamped on the side of the track from which it has been laterallymoved during lining. As indicated in broken lines, a similar surfacetamper 9' may also be carried on the frame in the region of the tracklifting apparatus 5. A carrier 11 is mounted on frame 1 for verticaladjustment so as to place the tamping plates of the tamping body intamping contact with the surface of the track ballast upon operation ofa suitable drive 11 for moving the carrier.

The vertically adjustable mounting is more clearly shown in FIG. 2although, being also conventional, it will be described only briefly.The carrier arm 11 is shown to extend laterally from machine frame 1 andconnected to the frame by linkages operated by a pressure fluid operateddrive to adjust the carrier vertically as well as horizontally inrelation to the ballast bed surface. The free outer end of arm 11carries the surface tamping body 12 which houses a vibrating means, suchas a cam shaft. The body 12 is freely pivotal on the carrier so that itmay readily conform to the surface configuration of the ballast.

All of the above structure is conventional and the arrangement of thetamping plates according to the invention will now be described inconnection with FIGS. 3 to 10.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modificationsand variations may occur to those skilled in the art, particularly afterbenefiting from the present teaching, without departing from the spiritand scope of tamping plates to be rigidly held in a selected angular 5the invention.

position in respect of the tamping body. For this purpose, the bracketshave a series of bores 15a, shown to be arcuately arranged in a circlewhose center is the hinge 18, and the brackets 16 have a bore arrangedin the same circle so that these bores may be brought into registry inselected angular positions. A bolt or like connecting element is theninserted into registering bores of brackets 15, 16 to hold the tampingplates rigidly on the tamping body.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, vibration damping elements 17 are interposedbetween the carrier 1 1 and the tamping body 12, a mounting plate beinginterposed between the carrier and the tamping body. The presentinvention is not concerned with the vibration damping arrangement and auseful arrangement of this type is disclosed and claimed in anapplication filed simultaneously herewith and entitled Mobile TrackSurfacing Machine, of which one of the joint inventors is also a jointinventor. This vibration damping arrangement will prevent the vibrationsproduced by cam shafts l9 housed in the tamping body 12 to betransmitted to the machine frame.

The tamping plate arrangements shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10 showpairs of pivotal abutting tamping plates 13, 14 which are hinged to thetamping body at 18 along a line extending centrally of the tamping body.On the other hand, FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 show embodiments wherein threeabutting tamping plates are hingedly connected at 18, 18' along twolines symmetrically extending along the surface tamping body 12.

In FIG. 4, the two lateral tamping plates 13', 14' are angularlyadjustable in respect of the central tamping plate 21, which may simplybe the flat underside of the taming body 12. Two hinges 18', 18' extendalong the lateral edges of the tamping body for pivotally mounting thelateral tamping plates 13, 14' on this body, a steplessly adjustableturnbuckle 22, including a threaded bolt and nut, connecting the pivotalplates to the tamping body to hold them rigidly in selected angularpositions.

In the modification of FIGS. 7 and 8, the two lateral pivotal tampingplates are hinged to the central fixed tamping plate along hingesextending symmetrically along the tamping body 12 at lines spacedinwardly from the edges of this body.

FIGS. 5 to 10 illustrate the ready adaptability of such vibratorysurface tampers to a great variety of ballast surface configurations, inwhich the pivotally adjusted tamping plates of the tamper are in firmtamping contact with flat and/or sloping ballast surfaces. Many otherpositional variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art, thusindicating the outstanding adaptability of the described and illustratedtamping plate mounting. Not only may the tamping plates be arranged soas best to suit local surface conditions but, as FIGS. 5 and 10, as wellas FIGS. 7 and 8, show, the weight of the tamping body and its vibratorydrive may also be so arranged in respect of the tamping plates as toobtain the most effective result at the ballast point that requirestamping most.

What we claim is:

1. A mobile track surfacing machine comprising l a frame,

2. a carrier mounted for vertical adjustment on the frame,

3. a vibratory surface tamping body mounted on the carrier laterallyadjacent the track,

a. said body having affixed thereto at least two tamping plates, saidtamping plates being pivotal in respect to each other and the tampingbody for adjustment in planes enclosing a selected angle with eachother,

b. means for adjusting and rigidly holding the tamping plates in theselected angular positions in respect to the tamping body, the adjustingand holding means comprising cooperating bracket means on the surfacetamping body and on the tamping plates, and removable connectingelements for connecting the bracket means of the tamping body and thetamping plates and thus to hold the tamping plates in selected angularpositions,

c. vertical adjustment of the carrier and pivotal adjustment of thetamping plates placing the tamping plates in tamping contact with aconforming surface of the track ballast, and

4. a vibrating means operatively associated with the surface tampingbody for vibrating the body and the tamping plates affixed thereto.

2. The mobile track surfacing machine of claim 1, wherein the carrier ispivotally mounted on the frame for pivoting in a vertical planetransverse to the track.

3. The mobile track surfacing machine of claim 1, wherein two of saidtamping plates are hinged to the surface tamping body along a lineextending centrally of the body.

4. The mobile track surfacing machine of claim 1 wherein three abuttingones of said plates are hingedly connected along two lines symmetricallyextending along the surface tamping body, a central one of the tampingplates being fixed in relation to the tamping body and two lateral onesof the tamping plates being angularly adjustable in respect of thecentral tamping plate.

5. The mobile track surfacing machine of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the brackets has a series of bores corresponding to the selectedangular positions,

v 6 a. said 'body having affixed thereto at least two 0. verticaladjustment of the carrier and pivotal adtamping plates, said tampingplates being pivotal justment of the tamping plates placing the tampinrespect to each other and the tamping body ing plates in tamping contactwith a conforming for adjustment in planes enclosing a selected SurfaceOflhe track f L angle with each other, 5 4. a vibrating meansoperatively associated with the b. a steplessly adjustable meansinterconnecting Surface f p y for Vlbratmg the y and the surface tampingbody and the tamping plates the tampllllg Plates afllxedfheretof i iholding the tamping plates in the 8. The mobile track surfacing machtneof claim 7, selected angular positions in respect to the wherein thesteplessly adjustable means lsaturnbuckle. tamping body, 10

1. A mobile track surfacing machine comprising
 1. a frame,
 2. a carriermounted for vertical adjustment on the frame,
 3. a vibratory surfacetamping body mounted on the carrier laterally adjacent the track, a.said body having affixed thereto at least two tamping plates, saidtamping plates being pivotal in respect to each other and the tampingbody for adjustment in planes enclosing a selected angle with eachother, b. means for adjusting and rigidly holding the tamping plates inthe selected angular positions in respect to the tamping body, theadjusting and holding means comprising cooperating bracket means on thesurface tAmping body and on the tamping plates, and removable connectingelements for connecting the bracket means of the tamping body and thetamping plates and thus to hold the tamping plates in selected angularpositions, c. vertical adjustment of the carrier and pivotal adjustmentof the tamping plates placing the tamping plates in tamping contact witha conforming surface of the track ballast, and
 4. a vibrating meansoperatively associated with the surface tamping body for vibrating thebody and the tamping plates affixed thereto.
 2. a carrier mounted forvertical adjustment on the frame,
 2. The mobile track surfacing machineof claim 1, wherein the carrier is pivotally mounted on the frame forpivoting in a vertical plane transverse to the track.
 2. a carriermounted for vertical adjustment on the frame,
 3. a vibratory surfacetamping body mounted on the carrier laterally adjacent the track, a.said body having affixed thereto at least two tamping plates, saidtamping plates being pivotal in respect to each other and the tampingbody for adjustment in planes enclosing a selected angle with eachother, b. a steplessly adjustable means interconnecting the surfacetamping body and the tamping plates for rigidly holding the tampingplates in the selected angular positions in respect to the tamping body,c. vertical adjustment of the carrier and pivotal adjustment of thetamping plates placing the tamping plates in tamping contact with aconforming surface of the track ballast, and
 3. The mobile tracksurfacing machine of claim 1, wherein two of said tamping plates arehinged to the surface tamping body along a line extending centrally ofthe body.
 3. a vibratory surface tamping body mounted on the carrierlaterally adjacent the track, a. said body having affixed thereto atleast two tamping plates, said tamping plates being pivotal in respectto each other and the tamping body for adjustment in planes enclosing aselected angle with each other, b. means for adjusting and rigidlyholding the tamping plates in the selected angular positions in respectto the tamping body, the adjusting and holding means comprisingcooperating bracket means on the surface tAmping body and on the tampingplates, and removable connecting elements for connecting the bracketmeans of the tamping body and the tamping plates and thus to hold thetamping plates in selected angular positions, c. vertical adjustment ofthe carrier and pivotal adjustment of the tamping plates placing thetamping plates in tamping contact with a conforming surface of the trackballast, and
 4. a vibrating means operatively associated with thesurface tamping body for vibrating the body and the tamping platesaffixed thereto.
 4. The mobile track surfacing machine of claim 1wherein three abutting ones of said plates are hingedly connected alongtwo lines symmetrically extending along the surface tamping body, acentral one of the tamping plates being fixed in relation to the tampingbody and two lateral ones of the tamping plates being angularlyadjustable in respect of the central tamping plate.
 4. a vibrating meansoperatively associated with the surface tamping body for vibrating thebody and the tamping plates affixed thereto.
 5. The mobile tracksurfacing machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the brackets has aseries of bores corresponding to the selected angular positions, and theconnecting elements are bolts receivable in said bores.
 6. The mobiletrack surfacing machine of claim 1, wherein the tamping plates are soaffixed to the tamping body that the body may be selectively placed onthe conforming track ballast surface in horizontal or oblique position.7. A mobile track surfacing machine comprising
 8. The mobile tracksurfacing machine of claim 7, wherein the steplessly adjustable means isa turnbuckle.